Overview

• Damon infiltrated the stage in the neon-green Frankie Focus costume tied to New York’s effort to curb smartphones in schools and was unmasked during the monologue.
• He and Kimmel traded insults as Damon referenced President Trump’s claim that the show was canceled, and Kimmel clarified it was off the air for only three nights.
• The encounter revived their long-running bit that began in 2005 with Kimmel’s “Apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time” sign-off.
• The stunt capped a week of tapings in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House to enthusiastic crowd reaction.
• Kimmel’s recent return followed ABC’s brief “preempted indefinitely” announcement and temporary affiliate blackouts, with the comeback drawing 6.26 million viewers before Nexstar and Sinclair restored the show.